[Game Takes] Flames 3 Sharks 1

[Bingo]

http://www.calgarypuck.com/2015/02/g...es-3-sharks-1/

[Vulcan]

Sure interesting to watch this crazy style of play that the Flames are walking out on this homestand. The defenseman control the puck in their zone while the forwards streak up the ice and stand near the opposition blueline. Then the defender fires a laser pass or a bank pass to one of the forwards who chips the puck in deep. The result? Very little forward flow for the Flames as they are forced to go in and get the puck back, but on the positive it destroys the oppositions chance to forecheck because they are too worried about the forwards behind them. Pretty revolutionary from my experience. Roger Nielsen would be proud!

This I like. I've been a hockey fan for many years and like to follow certain players as a very amateur scout but I'm not too great on the tactics employed. Pointing this out really helps me to enjoy the game and gives me something to watch for.

Now I could see they are making a lot of stretch passes but the reasoning behind it when it seems to on the surface rarely work, I didn't understand.

[Blixa]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

This I like. I've been a hockey fan for many years and like to follow certain players as a very amateur scout but I'm not too great on the tactics employed. Pointing this out really helps me to enjoy the game and gives me something to watch for.

Now I could see they are making a lot of stretch passes but the reasoning behind it when it seems to on the surface rarely work, I didn't understand.

What I saw was that Sharks got 1-2-2 Formation and was scared our forward speed. For me it´s some kind of trap and it eliminates the center of the ice. Flames defence can´t pass in the center, only near the boards. First forward is attacking blue line and don´t go deeper. Sharks did it last time after first period and it worked for sharks. That formation got the speed away and that´s why the game looked very slow. Off Course it changed after flames got the lead, and Sharks had to stop waiting.

I think that is the reason why Johnny was so quiet in the game. He can´t attack trough blue line with speed, and he won´t try go pass defence near the boards. Flames got some good changes when they stole the puck on red line when Sharks was attacking.

Winnipeg game Jets attacked heavily to our defence and there was lot of speed whole game.

If you have change to look the game again, watch how Sharks play first period time between 9.59 - 9.35 there is two good examples.

[FlameZilla]

HUUUUUUUUUUGE win. I'm still buzzing.

Couple of notes: I really liked what I saw from Bollig in the 3rd period. I think he managed to kill some of the Sharks' momentum after Scott's goal. He had the cajones to chirp back at John Scott after his goal and then on his next shift he went into the Sharks' zone on a kamikaze forecheck. He sort of knocked them off their stride when they were starting to look dangerous. I'm starting to see his value... finally.

Hiller is back to early season form. You're right: he does have a seriously unorthodox style. Plays very deep in his crease and never makes himself look that big, but uses Hasek-esque ninja reflexes to make big saves.

Backlund was a force all night and was impressively effective against Jumbo Joe. Schooled him on the faceoff dot and physically effed with his mojo all night. Shades of another Flames #11, Stephane Yelle.

Beauty snipe from Mason Raymond off a signature Colborne dish. That's what we're paying him for.

We're seeing big performances from support players now that teams are focussing on shutting down Hudler, Gaudreau and Monahan. David Jones is looking dangerous and Rafa Diaz is starting to win me over. Kris Russell gets the monkey off his back finally. Paul Byron is contributing and I sincerely hope he's winning some of his haters over.

And, lest we forget, Mark Giordano was a WARRIOR all night. He puts it all on the line every game and you have to think he's the Norris favourite at this stage.

[Mike F]

I’ve counted the Bruins in in the East for the last few weeks (8th place team), but are we ready to call the Flames home and cool with a six point cushion? Tough isn’t it?

What's with the trepidation? I booked my playoff tickets at American Thanksgiving like you told me!

This Flames win streak is remarkable when you consider that the trio that most fits into the slot of "2nd Line" is Bouma-Backlund-Jones. Pencil that in at the beginning of the year and it's doom-and-gloom, but they're excellent stories all around: in Bouma you have a guy who has burst through what anyone thought was his ceiling, to add some offensive zone presence to his gritty game; in Jones you have a guy who has suddenly refound the power-forward form that earned him a fat contract; and you summarized Backlund's performance in your write-up.

Of all of the Flames lines, that one looks like it's build for a playoff run.

[Murph]

Haven't seen it mentioned anywhere, but TJ Brodie had an absolutely massive game. 30 minutes of icetime? 30 MINUTES! Had an assist, was a plus 1, on the ice for the powerplay goal, killed all the penalties, and blocked 3 shots. He also made a couple of key defensive plays - like breaking up the Irwin breakaway in the first.

[Sample00]

sorry Bingo but is part of the Game takes missing? I didnt think it started with "The Flow". maybe I'm wrong.

[FlamesAddiction]

Great to see Russell join Dias and Bollig as players to finally hit the twine this year, I think Russell has been fairly good all season, so it was nice to see him rewarded. It's also nice to see Raymond continuing his hot streak. He started the season so well, but never seemed to gel after coming back from his injury.

This is probably the biggest win of the season in terms of playoff aspirations. I am also more impressed with Brodie every day. He is really rounding out his defensive game.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Sample00

sorry Bingo but is part of the Game takes missing? I didnt think it started with "The Flow". maybe I'm wrong.

Ooops! Forgot the opening. Had to PVR catch up after my kid's hockey practice, by midnight I was spent. It shows!

[Bingo]

Opening added!

Sorry for the screw up guys!

[Huntingwhale]

Interesting note about the stretch pass and forwards waiting at the opposing blueline. At home watching on TV it's hard to tell that is what's happening, but next time I'm at a game live I'll be watching for that. I'm just glad we finally have the personnel on the backend to play a style like that. For so many years we just didn't have anyone who could make a solid stretch pass and it seemed like a give away happened everytime someone tried. Now all our guys from the back can do that. Even Engelland has a decent first pass. Great to see Hartley utilizing our team's strengths and everyone is buying in.

Todd McLellan had a great quote in the Sun this morning. Great to see the Flames are finally getting the respect they deserve league wide.

Sharks coach Todd McLellan was asked prior to the game whether he was surprised the Flames were “kinda in” the playoff chase and breathing down his team’s neck. His response: “They’re in it. They’re breathing down a lot of necks, and they deserve to be there. Because they missed the playoffs for a few years, it doesn’t mean they can’t be a good organization now. They’ve made some changes, they’re a very focused organization and doing a good job of development and they’re pushing. They have a really strong identity that they play to. I’ve used the words ‘belief system’ a lot in San Jose and they have a strong belief system in Calgary and they can win every night. It doesn’t matter who they play against. They’ve proven it. When you use those terms, talk like that and describe a team, that’s a playoff-bound team. It’s as simple as that. I’d like to think teams talk about us like that, as well, and we want to compete with them for one of those positions.”